ALLAHABAD, INDIA, January 14, 2008: As the Ardh-Mela (half-Mela) festival approaches, arrangements have been made by the government to ensure the safety of the thousands expected to pilgrimage to Allahabad for this holy event. The Mela will begin with the Makar Sankranti bathing on January 15.
The Mela administration is expecting a congregation of five hundred thousand devotees bathing at the same time, according to to District Magistrate Ashish Kumar Goyal. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to ensure safety of the devotees; all employees and officials of different departments have been provided with identity cards. Traffic restrictions have also been imposed in the town. The Magh Mela is a month long festival and will go on untill February 10.
The important bathing dates according to astrology are January 15 (Makar Sankranti), January 19 (Mauni Amavasya), January 23 (Basant Panchami) and February 2 (Magh Purnima).